Samsung to launch Apple Pay rival with Galaxy S6

It looks like Samsung is all set to follow Apple’s footsteps and launch a payments platform with its upcoming Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones. This is seen as a move to ensure there’s an apple pay rival from Samsung.

According to South Korean publication DDaily, the company’s upcoming phones will come with LoopPay, the name given to its Apple Pay rival, integration allowing users to have mobile wallets on their phones for mobile-enabled payments. Samsung is rumoured to take a cue from Apple and name the feature “Samsung Pay.”

The rumour follows a report by ReCode that mentioned that Samsung was in talks with LoopPay to integrate its technology into one of its smartphones.

LoopPay’s technology is able to wirelessly talk to regular magnetic stripe credit card readers, so it can work in more locations compared to Apple Pay.

At the moment, LoopPay requires users to plug a special dongle into their phone or use a separate fob. A special smartphone case that charges the phone and talks to credit card readers is also available.

Apple Pay only works if the merchant has a special near field communication (NFC) terminal that can work with iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. Right now, a large number of merchants don’t support Apple Pay.

Samsung’s current high-end smartphones, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4, already come with PayPal integration that works in tandem with a fingerprint sensor embedded in the phones’ home button. However, PayPal is not accepted in all stores.

Samsung is expected to launch its next flagship smartphone Galaxy S6 and its curved variant by March-end following the MWC unveiling.

Much-awaited Galaxy S6 will take over from Galaxy S5 as Samsung’s top smartphone and is expected to be a huge departure from its predecessor.

Samsung is expected to retain the same metallic design in its Galaxy S6, along with a 2K (1440x2560p) screen. Taking forward the Galaxy Note Edge design, Samsung is said to be working on a Galaxy S6 variant with curved screens on both edges.

If the reports of overheating are true, Samsung would likely use its own Exynos chip in the international variant. This chip is said to be designed on 64-bit architecture. Samsung usually sells Exynos-powered smartphones in 3G-dominant markets.

Other likely features of Samsung Galaxy S6 features are 20MP rear camera, faster 4G radios, 32 and 64GB storage options, microSD card support and battery capacity of over 3,000mAh.

Samsung is also said to be working on add-on back panels that provide extra functionality to the smartphone. Among the back panels being developed is one that turns the rear casing into an e-book reader, while another is said to put all the S Health features on the back.